Youtube in 4K!

Youtube has come out with a new feature recently, adding support for video resolutions larger than 1080p, up to 4K (4096x2304), a common resolution for movie theaters. 4K is more than 6 times the size of 1080p, and for optimum results needs a 25 foot screen, according to Youtube. This announcement makes me wonder a little bit. Why would anyone need 4k video on Youtube? It already takes long enough, waiting for videos to buffer, so you're going to watch a video with several times as much data? It seems to me like it's a marketing gimmick, but decide for yourself. The article, along with a playlist of 4K videos available currently, is right here.

To me, the only reason people would use it is because a) they don't understand that having a super high resolution like that isn't any better than the lower ones on their monitor or b) they want to gloat to their friends (who may or may not fit into the first reason) that they can watch movie theater quality videos. Or maybe both.

Probably a publicity stunt, trying to get the ignorant people to get hyped up about it, when it only wastes time.